Sirach 11:1-17: a reflection

1The wisdom of the lowly will lift up his head, and make him sit in the midst of great men. 2Don’t commend a man for his good looks. Don’t abhor a man for his outward appearance. 3The bee is little among flying creatures, but what it produces is the best of confections. 4Don’t boast about the clothes you wear, and don’t exalt yourself in the day of honor; for the Lord’s works are wonderful, and his works are hidden among men. 5Many kings have sat down upon the ground, but one who was never thought of has worn a crown. 6Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced. Men of renown have been delivered into other men’s hands. 7Don’t blame before you investigate. Understand first, and then rebuke. 8Don’t answer before you have heard. Don’t interrupt while someone else is speaking. 9Don’t argue about a matter that doesn’t concern you. Don’t sit with sinners when they judge. 10My son, don’t be busy about many matters; for if you meddle much, you will not be unpunished. If you pursue, you will not overtake, and you will not escape by fleeing. 11There is one who toils, labors, and hurries, and is even more behind. 12There is one who is sluggish, and needs help, lacking in strength, and who abounds in poverty, but the Lord’s eyes looked upon him for good, and he raised him up from his low condition, 13and lifted up his head so that many marveled at him. 14Good things and bad, life and death, poverty and riches, are from the Lord. 17The Lord’s gift remains with the godly. His good pleasure will prosper forever.

Among Sirach's counsels comes wise advice about how to respond before we judge or answer: Don't blame before you investigate. Understand first, and then rebuke. Don't answer before you have heard. Don't interrupt while someone else is speaking. The wisdom here is to listen and understand before we judge or respond, not rushing to blame, to answer, or to rebuke before we have heard and understood. It is easy to react before we have listened, to blame before we have investigated, to answer before we have heard the whole matter; but Sirach counsels understanding first, then speaking, hearing fully before responding.

Notice the counsel: understand first, then rebuke; hear before you answer. Sirach warns against the common habit of reacting before we have listened, of blaming before we have looked into the matter, of answering before we have heard the whole of it. The wise way is the reverse: to listen first, to understand the matter fully, before we judge or respond. To blame before investigating is to risk blaming wrongly; to answer before hearing is to risk answering foolishly. Understanding must come before judgment; hearing before answering. The wise person listens and understands before speaking, rather than rushing to react before the matter is heard and understood.

That is worth taking to heart, for we do well to listen and understand before we judge or answer, not rushing to react. We can be quick to blame before we have looked into a matter, quick to answer before we have heard the whole of it, quick to judge before we understand; but Sirach counsels understanding first, hearing fully, before we respond. To listen and understand before speaking is wisdom; to react before hearing is folly. Do not rush to blame before you have investigated, or answer before you have heard; understand first, listen fully, and then respond. Listen and understand before you judge or answer, not rushing to blame before investigating or to answer before hearing, as Sirach counsels us to understand first and then rebuke; for it is wisdom to hear fully and understand before we respond, and folly to react before the matter is heard, so that we do well to listen first and speak after.

Lord, among Sirach's counsels comes wise advice about how to respond before we judge or answer: don't blame before you investigate; understand first, and then rebuke; don't answer before you have heard; don't interrupt while someone else is speaking. The wisdom here is to listen and understand before I judge or respond, not rushing to blame, to answer, or to rebuke before I have heard and understood. It is easy to react before I have listened. Show me the counsel: understand first, then rebuke; hear before you answer. Sirach warns against the common habit of reacting before we have listened, of blaming before we have looked into the matter, of answering before we have heard the whole of it. The wise way is the reverse: to listen first, to understand the matter fully, before we judge or respond. To blame before investigating is to risk blaming wrongly; to answer before hearing is to risk answering foolishly. Understanding must come before judgment; hearing before answering. Take that to my heart, for I do well to listen and understand before I judge or answer, not rushing to react. I can be quick to blame before I have looked into a matter, quick to answer before I have heard the whole of it, quick to judge before I understand; but Sirach counsels understanding first. Keep me from rushing to blame before I have investigated, or to answer before I have heard; help me understand first, Lord, listen fully, and then respond, as Sirach counsels us to understand first and then rebuke.